28 gauge

[Tracy]

I have been working on shot loads for a 28 ga.I have tried many different powders and shot loads.Yesterday I tried 60 grains Diamondback 3f a wonder wad 7/8 ounce 5 shot and another wonder wad.The pattern at 25 yards was very good much better than any thing else I have tried.I am new to smoothbores,does this load have enough oomph for rabbit,squirrel and pheasant at that range?

 

[kurts]

if the shot will go through both sides of a tin can at that distance you are good to go.

 

[Billnpatti]

Yep, I agree. Give it the old tin can test and if it passes, you're good to go. :thumbsup:

 

[Grandpa Ron]

Yup, you are right at the 28 ga. service load of 56 grains and 3/4 oz of shot.

The tin can test is hard to beat.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

That's 5 grains over a 2 dram load, though the 28 gauge often I've seen commonly with a 3/4 ounce load, but heavy bird loads often are 7/8 ounce.

Folks take an empty steel tuna can, stand it on its edge at the desired yardage, and shoot. If the pellets that hit go through, you're fine...if not, add powder, use bigger shot, or shoot with the animal closer.

If folks are shooting through an empty peach can, or the like, going through two layers, then yeah it's plenty powerful.

Diamondback is crap powder btw...best you use it up and get some better, cleaner shooting stuff.

LD

 

[Tracy]

I just got done shooting a tin can at 25 yards,the pellets penetrated both sides of the can.Good to go.I have had good luck with Diamondback powder.I have used Goex 2f,diamondback 2f 3f,dupont 2f,Schuetzen 2f 3f,and Swiss 2f 3f.I my experience there is not much difference in fouling.The place I buy my powder just raised the price of Diamondback from 9.95 dollars a can to 12.00 a can,still much cheaper than most powders.

 

[roundball]

I have been working on shot loads for a 28 ga.I have tried many different powders and shot loads.Yesterday I tried 60 grains Diamondback 3f a wonder wad 7/8 ounce 5 shot and another wonder wad.The pattern at 25 yards was very good much better than any thing else I have tried.I am new to smoothbores,does this load have enough oomph for rabbit,squirrel and pheasant at that range?

FYI, there's and old saying for shot loads in ML smoothbores:
"Load powder, more lead, shoots far, kills dead"
I use that approach in my smoothbores and here are 25 yard examples of 60grns Goex and 100grn shot charges of 5's or 6's, and 90grns of 7.5's out of my 42" barreled .54cal smoothbore gives these results...the #5's is my general purpose load and have been excellent on squirrels:

 

[Tracy]

Those cans look really good.I don't think I would get quite that many pellets in that small of an area.I have read about jug choking but don't think anybody does it on anything smaller than a 20 gauge.

 

[roundball]

Those cans look really good.I don't think I would get quite that many pellets in that small of an area.

Yeah, not with those little shot charges you're using.

And my 28ga is just a plain cylinder bore...I don't try to abide by modern shot charges that benefit from modern plastic shot cups in modern choked barrels to eliminate bore wall damage and also hold a smaller charge together for more distance, and get choked down for even tighter patterns...it's apples & oranges...its the reason I use the proven approach from the old saying I mentioned above in my 28, no shot cup, bare bore, no choke, etc.

Also, larger (heavier) shot pellets like #4 or #5 instead of #6 or #7.5 actually / usually pattern better than smaller lighter ones, because their weight carries them further before they start to get affected by / opened up by the air resistance.

Next you're at the range, try a couple 100grn measures of #5s and see what you get.

 

[kingsax26]

im gonna ahve to try that , those looke puuurrrty good